“We basically just told them they did a great job over the first 10 games, but that's all behind us now,” he said. “Nothing we did matters anymore.”

What the Sea Kings (10-0) did during the regular season will be difficult to forget, at least for their playoff opponents. CdM posted a 10-0 record and are in the midst of a 20-game winning streak, including playoffs. The team's last loss came on Sept. 21 of last year.

CdM is also the two-time defending CIF-SS Southern Division champion, and Friday will be the first step in chasing a three-peat.

Meyer said Wednesday the pressure of defending the crown for a third season is not something that has affected his players so far.

“Obviously, one of our goals was to go undefeated,” Meyer said. “And we did that. When you do that, you're going to be the favorite. But we've had a target on our backs all season. We feel like our guys have embraced that. We've gotten everyone's best shot and we're responded well.

“We have to continue to focus on the little things and continue to compete as we go through the playoffs.”

The way the CIF football playoffs are constructed, teams are required to provide four game films to their opponent in advance of the game.

In addition to the four game tapes Meyer received, the two shared a common opponent: Irvine, which Loara played Sept. 12.

“We all probably look at and compare scores, but it doesn't have a lot of bearing on the game,” Meyer said. “They played Irvine early in the season and they are coming off of a big win against Westminster. So they're coming in with momentum and a positive vibe in their program.

“And everyone is capable of winning in the playoffs.”

The winner of tonight's matchup will play the winner of Los Amigos and Estancia.

COSTA MESA

Last week: Costa Mesa 56, Laguna Beach 30

This week: 7 p.m. today vs. Katella at Estancia

The Mustangs aren't looking at it as revenge. It's more about righting a wrong.

“I don't know about revenge, but when you lose a game, you look back and think what you could have done to beat them,” said Costa Mesa coach Wally Grant. “It's more of an affirmation that with all of our guys, we could have ended 8-2 instead of 7-3. It would make amends for that loss.”

The Costa Mesa Mustangs (7-3) will take on Katella (7-3) in the first round of the CIF-SS Southern Division playoffs, looking to avenge a 21-16 defeat at the hands of the Knights on Sept. 14.

In that game, Costa Mesa was without star running back Oronde Crenshaw, who was suffering from a high-ankle sprain, and standout receiver Quinton Bell, who was hampered by a hip injury.

Despite the idea of avenging an early loss, Grant said the idea of the season coming to an end is not sitting well with his seniors.

“I think what's happening is all of our seniors are coming to the realization that this could be their last game,” he said. “There is more urgency than there was a few months ago. I imagine that's what's going on across the whole county. But our guys are not ready to let the season end.”

The Mustangs and Knights have faced off each of the past four seasons with Katella winning three of the four matchups.

“This game is just like having them on the preseason schedule year in and year out,” Grant said. “We're familiar with what we'll go up against. I'm sure they're doing the same things we're doing and looking at the previous game tape.”

In this season's contest, the Mustangs kept the game close. Katella led, 7-3, at half and 21-16 with the Mustangs driving late in the game.

However, a late turnover sealed the victory for Katella.

The winner of today's game will face the winner of Garden Grove, the No. 2 seed in the bracket, versus Orange.

“I haven't even looked at who would be next,” Grant said. “My focus is to win this game this week and to get some satisfaction that with a healthy team we should have won this game two months ago.”

ESTANCIA

Last week: Estancia 24, Calvary Chapel of Santa Ana 14

This week: 7 p.m. today at Los Amigos

The Eagles grabbed hold of their playoff destiny by shutting down a Calvary Chapel squad that had run rampant all season long.

And with a Laguna Beach loss, Estancia coach Mike Bargas and company were celebrating their entrance into the CIF-SS Southern Division playoffs against Los Amigos (8-2).

It's a rematch of last year's first-round game, a 41-14 loss for Estancia.

“We played them last year and they stomped us pretty good,” Bargas said. “We were expected to beat them, or at least play them tough, but we didn't even come out to play.”

The seven-year coach, who has won two Orange Coast League titles and shared a third, said his squad is ready, coming off its most complete performance of the year.

The Eagles hassled Calvary Chapel quarterback Danny Mettero all game, sacking him three times in the first half. Bargas said Estancia showed consistency on offense with the run-first attack headed by Indiana Taylor and Christian Laurent, who both scored touchdowns.

Bargas said his Eagles (5-5, 3-2) need to maintain focus and continue to run the ball effectively to limit offensive opportunities for Los Amigos. The Lobos have scored 45 or more points in six of their past seven games, including a 70-point performance against Rancho Alamitos. The Lobos, however, were shut out by Garden Grove, 49-0.

Laurent will be a major key to keep the Lobos' offense off the field, Bargas said.

“Christian is fearless,” Bargas said. “He'll attack, attack and attack, then all of a sudden he's popping through tackles.”

“On defense they don't do anything fancy,” he said. ”They're pretty basic, but they're good at what they do.”

If the Eagles win the first round, they will likely play undefeated Corona del Mar team.

NEWPORT HARBOR

Last week: Huntington Beach 40, Newport Harbor 14

This week: 7 p.m. today at Dana Hills

The Sailors pulled themselves into the playoffs despite a big loss to Sunset League rival Huntington Beach in the final game of the regular season.

They'll have to have a short memory.

In Newport Harbor's (5-5, 3-2) first round CIF-SS Southwest Division playoff game, they'll have to do without some key players. Two-way player Alex DeSoto will be absent from the offensive and defensive lines with a broken collarbone. That means sophomore Joey Stukonis, who has missed a number of games with a variety of illnesses including pneumonia, will have to step in and help shore up the defense. The team also may miss junior running back Chance Siemonsma, who is listed as questionable with a bruised foot.

Coach Jeff Brinkley isn't complaining.

“We're pretty equally matched” he said.

The Sailors and the Dolphins both faced and lost by similar margins to Trabuco Hills. However, the Sailors grabbed a commanding 42-25 victory over Fountain Valley while the Dolphins lost to the Barons, 24-21.

The Sailors are 3-3 in their past six meetings with the Dolphins, but have not faced them since a 41-7 win in 2009.

To move on in the playoffs, Brinkley said Stukonis and the defense will need to learn to play together quickly.

“Defensively, we have to do better against the run,” he said.

A win Friday would set the Sailors up for a second-round game against the winner of La Habra versus Canyon.

SAGE HILL

Last week: Sage Hill 50, Crean Lutheran 40

This week: 7 p.m. today at Western Christian of Upland

Sage Hill, helped by its strength of schedule and a two-game winning streak, squeezed into the playoffs with an at-large bid.

The playoff berth comes a year after an 0-10 finish for the Lightning (5-5, 2-2), which is the third team from the Academy League to make the playoffs behind Brethren Christian and league champion St. Margaret's.

To notch a playoff victory in the first round of the CIF-SS East Valley Division, the Lightning are going to have to go through a Western Christian team that went 10-0 in the regular season.

“This team is dynamic,” said Sage Hill coach J.R. Tolver. “In small school football, if you have one or two players who can take it the distance, you have a leg up, and their quarterback and running back are dynamic. They can score a 1-yard touchdown or a 99-yard touchdown.”

That means offense will be key for the Lightning, who have shown in their past two victories they can rack up points. The Lightning have scored 35 and 50 points in successive weeks.

Running back Beau Roth and quarterback CJ McCord have helped guide the offense and have been aided by receivers Sam Masarik, Will Burns and Vince Wetmore.

The Lighting will need them all, Tolver said.

“We'll need to score 35 points to have a chance to win the game,” he said.

They'll also have to slow down the Fighting Lancers' offense, which means keeping an eye on the run and paying attention to the read-option. Tolver said he expects Western Christian to run the ball about 80 percent of the time.

“As a staff we're really going to have to be on our Ps and Qs for what we call and when,” he said. “We have to put our kids in a position to win because athletically this team is a little bigger than us and a little faster than us.”

If the Lightning win in the first round, they'll face the winner of Santa Clara versus Banning.

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